The 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo wrapped up last week in Chicago, and, as usual, it delivered on showcasing new and innovative products.

Here are some of our favorite finds from the show floor:

Reed’s and Regal Crown Candy Rolls
Old-fashioned Regal Crown sour fruit hard candy rolls, which originated from England’s Trebor Bassett in 1953, and Reed’s hard candy rolls, which debuted in 1893 via The Reed’s Candy Company, both fell off candy radar, but are now back! You can thank the New York-based Iconic Candy company for their revival. Each brand has kept its vintage graphics and stayed true to original flavors.

BarNone
The Iconic Candy company has also revived the retired BarNone candy bar made with crispy chocolate wafers, chocolate cream, crushed peanuts, and a double layering of milk chocolate. The packaging on the BarNone is true to the original, minus the Hershey’s logo. A BarNone Jr. bar, weighing in at 0.8 oz. (half the size of the regular BarNone), will also soon be available.

Ring Pop Gummies
It was only a matter of time before Bazooka Candy Brand went gummy with its Ring Pops. The chewy and 100% wearable bling comes in four colors and flavors, including Strawberry (pink), Cherry (red), Watermelon (green), and Blue Raspberry (blue).

Lemonhead TinsLimited Edition 1.5-oz. Lemonhead Tins celebrate 50 years of Pucker Power. “At a time when legendary American companies are closing their doors, we are proud to honor one of Ferrara Candy Company’s longstanding brands with these commemorative tins,” says Ferrara Candy Company CEO Salvatore Ferrara II. Made with real lemon juice to give the candies their unique lemon flavor, Lemonhead candies are fat free and the tins are really cute. A fun alternative to ho-hum mint tins.

Coffee ThinsAlthough Tierra Nueva’s Coffee Thins were officially launched in August 2012, they’re still new to us and a fab find. Made from premium coffee beans, the small 0.5-oz. squares look and taste like chocolate, but are made from premium-roasted coffee beans and come in three flavors: Americano, Latte, and Espresso. Each square is approximately 60 to 70 calories, and is the equivalent of one 8-oz. cup of coffee. It’s a whole new, unique way to consume coffee and caught the attention of industry experts and candy buyers at the 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo who voted Coffee Thins “Most Innovative New Product – Non Chocolate Category.”

Cherry Hi-Chew
Hi-Chew, the soft and chewy candy from Japanese manufacturer Morinaga, now comes in a cherry flavor. It is surprising that cherry didn’t arrive sooner in the American market, but we’re happy to see it now in the Hi-Chew lineup. The cherry chews have great texture and the flavor is really, really good. Plus they’re gluten-free, cholesterol-free, and made with real fruit juices and purees. Score!

Color Your Own SweetheartsThese black-and-white Sweetheart boxes are made specifically for coloring. The new 1 oz. packs will coincide with a coloring contest that will reward the top entrants in separate age groups with cool prizes. More detailed information, including rules and regulations, will be released closer to the 2014 Valentine’s Day season at www.mynecco.com.

A mega-trend also appeared on the show floor, which was impossible to miss: Teeny-tiny versions of popular candies. Here’s the lowdown:

“Minis,” “Bites,” and “Nibbles” are undoubtedly the latest buzzwords in Candy Land, so it will be interesting to see if the pendulum swings back to “Giant” and “King-Sized” in 2014 … or if candies get even skinnier.